Then, the following week, Democrats will face off for the first round of presidential primary debates, set for June 26-27 in Miami. (The debates span two days because there are too many candidates to pack into one forum.)

It's significant, but not surprising, that both major parties are kicking off campaign season in Florida.

Consider:

We are the third most-populous state in the country, approaching 22 million demographically diverse residents. More than a quarter of Florida's population is Hispanic, and about 1.5 million are veterans.

Our elections often are decided by the narrowest of margins — including last year's gubernatorial race, in which Ron DeSantis beat Andrew Gillum by less than half a percentage point.

Florida is a political bellwether, typically carrying the presidential candidate who wins nationally (exceptions: 1960 and 1992).

All of that is to say, Florida has the potential to set the tone for the nationwide election that lies ahead.

The candidates and their handlers know this, and they will behave accordingly.

What to expect in Florida

Get ready for a splash-zone view of candidates' promises and pandering; insights and insults; back-slapping and baby-kissing; tweeting and telephone polls.

Steel yourself for a year and a half of it.

If the mere thought of 2020 prompts the bile rise in your gut, I sympathize. Politics is messy stuff.

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Republican politician Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor and congressman, has decided to launch a longshot Republican challenge to President Donald Trump. “I am here to tell you now that I am going to get in,’’ Sanford said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday,’’ Sept. 8, 2019. In this July 21, 2018, file photo, Sanford speaks at OZY Fest in Central Park in New York. Evan Agostini, Invision/AP

Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh announced on Aug. 25, 2019 he'll challenge President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in 2020. The tea party favorite argues that Trump is unfit for the White House. In this Nov. 15, 2011, file photo former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Carolyn Kaster, AP

Democratic activist and billionaire investor Tom Steyer speaks at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox on August 11, 2019. Steyer announced he was seeking Democratic nomination on July 9, 2019. Olivia Sun

Joe Sestak, a former Pennsylvania congressman and 2020 presidential candidate, announced he was joining the race for the presidency on June 22, 2019. He's seen here giving a campaign speech from the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa on Aug. 10, 2019. Sam Owens, Des Moines Register

Montana Governor Steve Bullock talks with the media in the spin room after the Democratic Presidential debate at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Bullock announced his candidacy on May 14, 2019. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-OH, with his son Brady on his shoulders, high-fives a visitor of the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 10, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. Ryan announced he was seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination on April 4, 2019. Kelsey Kremer, The Des Moines Register

Beto O'Rourke visits Mexico to meet with Javier Corrales, governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, and with family members of the deceased due to the shooting in El Paso, Texas on August 8, 2019. O'Rouke announced he is running for president on March 14, 2019. Omar Ornelas/USA TODAY Network

But it’s too important to tune out. Our choices in 2020 will shape the future of Florida and our country. If you have read this far, you know this to be true.

With that in mind, we want to make the 2020 election cycle less miserable — and more meaningful — for you.

First, we need your help. There’s an easy way to provide it.

Take our 2020 survey

We’ve created a short survey for you to tell us what's on your mind as we start thinking about the next presidential election. You can fill it out in a matter of minutes at http://bit.ly/Florida2020survey.

Among the questions in the survey:

If you could tell the 2020 presidential candidates one thing they should know about Florida, what would it be?

How can our journalists help you evaluate the 2020 presidential candidates?

Name one 2020 issue that you want Florida journalists to cover in more depth.

What kind of news coverage are you most likely to seek out during/after the primary debates and Trump's campaign kick-off?

The answers you provide will help guide our journalism at the USA TODAY Network-Florida (which includes FLORIDA TODAY, the Naples Daily News, The News-Press, the Pensacola News Journal, the Tallahassee Democrat, and Treasure Coast Newspapers/TCPalm).

Eve Samples(Photo: JEREMIAH WILSON/TCPALM)

Why are we doing this? Because we believe it's critically important for our campaign coverage to reflect your interests and priorities. We want our 2020 commentary to be a conversation, not a monologue.

The same motives were at the heart of last year's Florida Voices series, in which we spotlighted the hopes and concerns of everyday Floridians ahead of the midterm elections. As part of the effort, we also facilitated issue-oriented conversations in our Florida Voices Facebook group (where those conversations are still happening; you're welcome to join us there).

We look forward to hearing from you as we recast Florida Voices for 2020.

This month is significant. The first round of primary debates will illuminate the strongest candidates among the field of more than two dozen Democrats. Trump, in turn, will have a narrower group of opponents to focus on defeating.

The 2020 election cycle has arrived at our front door, and it's certain to be a game-changer for Florida.

Eve Samples is opinion and engagement editor for the USA TODAY Network-Florida, which includes FLORIDA TODAY, the Naples Daily News, The News-Press (Fort Myers), the Pensacola News Journal, the Tallahassee Democrat, and Treasure Coast Newspapers/TCPalm. Contact her at esamples@gannett.com or @EveSamples on Twitter.